Compactor Wheel Assembly

ABSTRACT

A compactor wheel assembly includes a compactor rim. A modular guard assembly has a plurality of replaceable guard modules mounted, in a detachable manner, on the compactor rim, to inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris inwardly towards an axle to which the rim is mounted, in use.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to compactor wheels.

BACKGROUND

Compactors play an important role in waste management and are used for compacting waste at large dumps. Compactors can also be used for compacting soil during road construction, for example. These compactors include one or more compactor wheels or drums which roll over the garbage to be compacted.

A common problem with compacting garbage in this manner is that wire and other elongate waste material passes laterally over the compactor wheel and becomes wrapped around an axle to which the compactor wheel is rotationally fastened. The waste material must then be manually removed, and this removal can often be a dangerous, laborious and time-consuming process.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for impeding the wrapping of wire and other elongate material around the axle to which the compactor wheel is fastened.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a compactor wheel assembly that comprises:

-   -   a compactor rim; and     -   a modular guard assembly having plurality of replaceable guard         modules mounted, in a detachable manner, on the compactor rim,         to inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris inwardly towards         an axle to which the rim is mounted, in use.

The modular guard assembly may include a plurality of guard mounting members positioned circumferentially about the compactor rim, the guard modules being mounted on the mounting members.

The modular guard assembly may include fastening devices for fastening each guard module to at least one of the guard mounting members in a detachable manner.

The plurality of guard mounting members may be fast with the compactor rim and may extend radially from an operatively inner end portion of the compactor rim, each pair of adjacent guard mounting members being equidistant with respect to each other.

Each guard module may be formed integrally from a strip of metal.

Each module may have one end with a dog-legged lesser edge longitudinal profile and another end with a substantially straight lesser edge longitudinal profile with a post of each mounting member received between the dog-legged end of one respective module and the straight end of a consecutive respective module such that together the modules define a substantially uniform outwardly facing surface.

Each module may define an opening at each end and each post may define a corresponding opening, the openings being configured so that when the posts are received between associated ends of consecutive modules, the openings are in register with each other to permit the modules to be fastened to the posts. The fastening devices may include elongate fastening components receivable through the registered openings.

Each fastening device may include the elongate fastening component in the form of a pin, the pin having a head and a shank defining an aperture, and a fastener that is receivable through the aperture. The fastener and the aperture may be configured so that associated ends of the consecutive modules and the interposed post are compressed together between the fastener and the flared head.

Each fastener may be a sprung member that is receivable in the aperture so that the associated ends of the consecutive modules and the interposed post are compressed together between at least one portion of the sprung member and the head.

The sprung member may be a spring plate that has a waveform profile with an apex that is receivable in said aperture and legs extending out of the pin to bear against one of the ends of the consecutive modules.

Instead, the sprung member may be a spring plate with a longitudinal profile that defines a pair of apices interposed between a pair of legs, the pin being received in a trough defined between the apices and the legs extending out of the pin to bear against one of the ends of the consecutive modules.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a compactor wheel assembly comprising:

-   -   a compactor rim; and     -   a plurality of guard mounting members positioned         circumferentially about the compactor rim, the guard mounting         members being configured to permit a plurality of replaceable         guard modules to be mounted on the guard mounting members with         fastening devices for fastening each guard module to at least         one of the guard mounting members in a detachable manner, to         inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris inwardly towards an         axle to which the compactor rim is mounted.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a compactor wheel assembly that comprises:

-   -   a compactor rim;     -   a plurality of guard mounting members positioned         circumferentially about the compactor rim;     -   a plurality of replaceable guard modules mounted on the guard         mounting members and configured to inhibit the movement of         wrapping-type debris inwardly towards an axle to which the         compactor rim is mounted; and     -   fastening devices for fastening each guard module to at least         one of the guard mounting members in a detachable manner.

The compactor wheel assembly may further include another modular guard for surrounding the compactor wheel. The compactor wheel assembly may further include another mounting means for arrangement on the compactor wheel and to which the other modular guard can be mounted.

The compactor wheel may include a plurality of replaceable cleats or teeth for engaging with the garbage in a conventional manner.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guard module for mounting to the mounting means of the compactor wheel assembly.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flanged mounting post of the mounting means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compactor wheel assembly including:

-   -   a compactor wheel; and     -   a modular guard for arrangement on the compactor wheel to         protect an axle to which the compactor wheel can be fastened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention or the claims in any way. The Detailed Description makes reference to a number of drawings as set out below.

FIG. 1 a is a plan view of one embodiment, in accordance with the invention, of a waste compactor wheel assembly.

FIG. 1 b is a side view of the waste compactor wheel assembly of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 1 c is an inner perspective view of the waste compactor wheel assembly of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 1 d is an outer perspective view of the waste compactor wheel assembly of FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 1 e is an enlarged view of the region A shown in FIG. 1 d.

FIG. 2 is an inner perspective view of the waste compactor wheel assembly without cleats for illustrative convenience.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a guard module of the compactor wheel assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting member of the compactor wheel assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment, in accordance with the invention, of a waste compactor wheel assembly, also shown without the cleats for illustrative convenience only.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectioned side view showing one form of fastener used to fasten guard modules for the waste compactor wheel assembly to the mounting members.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectioned side view showing another form of fastener used to secure guard modules to the mounting members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a waste compactor wheel assembly 2 a as shown in FIG. 1. The waste compactor wheel assembly 2 a includes a waste compactor wheel or rim 4, and a modular guard assembly 8 mounted on a circumferential inner periphery 14 of the rim 4 to inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris from the rim 4 to an axle (not shown) on which the rim 4 can be mounted.

The word “inner” used here refers to that side of the rim 4 that would be closest to machinery to which the rim 4 is affixed, in use. It does not refer to an internal surface of the rim 4. It follows that the word “outer”, when used in the same sense, refers to an opposite side of the rim 4.

The modular guard assembly 8 is thus a barrier for impeding the movement of wire and other elongate waste material off the rim 4 and on to the axle, thereby impeding the wrapping of this material around the axle. A detailed description of the compactor wheel assembly 2 a is provided below.

A plurality of replaceable cleats 6 for compacting waste during waste compaction is fast with an outer surface 7 of the rim 4. The modular guard assembly 8 extends radially from the inner periphery 14 of the waste compactor wheel 4 to a lesser degree than an extension of the cleats 6 from the surface 7.

The modular guard assembly 8 includes a plurality of like guard modules 10 as shown in FIG. 3. Each module 10 is integrally formed from a metal strip (or bar) and includes an end 22 with a dog-legged lesser edge longitudinal profile (the dog-legged end 22) and an opposite end 23 with a straight lesser edge longitudinal profile (the straight end 23).

A mounting hole 24 is defined through each of the ends 22, 23 for receiving an elongate fastening component in the form of a shank 37 of a fastening device 20.

Each module 10 has an abutment edge 27 that is profiled to correspond with a curvature of the rim 4 (FIG. 3). An opposite edge 29 is relatively straight. That portion of the opposite edge 29 on the straight end 23 can be angled with respect to the remaining portion of the opposite edge to conform to the curvature of the rim.

The modular guard assembly 8 further includes a plurality of guard mounting members 12 as shown in FIG. 4. In general, the number of mounting members 12 varies according to a diameter of the rim 4. The cleats 6 are arranged in parallel circumferential rows about the rim 4.

Each mounting member 12 has a post 15 extending from a flared base 13 and is typically located between a pair of cleats 6 of an inner row. Accordingly, the number of mounting members 12 is comparable with the number of cleats 6 in a row.

The flared base 13 of each mounting member 12 can be welded to the rim 4. Each post 15 defines a mounting hole 26 for receiving the shank 37 of the associated fastening device 20. The posts 15 extend radially outwardly from the inner periphery 14 of the rim 4, so that the posts 15 are equidistant with respect to each other.

Turning to FIG. 1 e, each post 15 is located between a dog-legged end 22 of one module 10 and a straight end 23 of an adjacent module 10 so that the mounting holes 24, 26 are aligned.

The shank 37 of the associated fastening device 20 is received through the mounting holes 24, 26. Each fastening device 20 can include a bolt and a nut for engaging with the bolt so that each post 15 can be compressed between the ends 22, 23 of adjacent modules 10. Thus, in this example, the shank 37 is that of the bolt.

Alternatively, each shank 37 can form part of a pin 36. The shank 37 is received through the mounting holes 24, 26 (FIG. 1 e). The pin 36 has a flared head mounted on the shank 37.

The shank 37 defines an aperture. Each fastener further includes a spring plate 48 of sinusoidal shape which can be compressed and received within the aperture so that the adjacent pair of ends 22, 23 and the post 15, interposed between the ends 22, 23 are compressed together between legs of the spring plate 48 and the head.

In this example, the dog-legged end 22 of each module 10 defines a recess 50 in which the spring plate 48 is received. That arrangement serves to protect the fastening device 20 from being damaged.

The modules 10 and the mounting members 12 are configured so that, as can be seen in the drawings, when the dog-legged end 22 and the straight end 23 of adjacent modules are fastened to mounting members 12, the resulting modular guard assembly 8 has a uniform outwardly facing surface 25.

Furthermore, the abutment edge 25 of each module 10 has a stepped formation 31 at the straight end 23 and a stepped formation 33 at the dog-legged end 22 to accommodate the flared base 13 of the associated mounting member. This further enhances the uniformity of the outwardly facing surface 25.

Two examples of the spring plate 48 are shown as 48.1 in FIGS. 6 and 48.2 in FIG. 7. With reference to the preceding drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts, unless otherwise specified.

The spring plate 48.1 has a pair of apices 34. The spring plate 48.1 is urged in the direction of an arrow 41 into the aperture 38 so that the pin 36 is positioned between the apices 34 with a trough 40 bearing against an inner surface 43 of the pin 36. In this embodiment, the inner surface 43 is shaped to correspond with the trough 40 to enhance a fit of the spring plate 48.1 in the aperture 38.

Each pin 36 has the shank 37 and a head 39 on the shank 37. The spring plate 48.1 is dimensioned so that legs 42 that depend from respective apices 34 bear against the dog-legged end 22, such that the legs 42 and the head 39 serve to clamp the post 15 between the dog-legged end 22 and the straight end 23 to fasten adjacent ends 22, 23 to the post 15 securely and in a removable manner.

The spring plate 48.2 shown in FIG. 7 has a single apex 44. The spring plate 48.2 is urged in the direction of the arrow 41 into the aperture 38 so that the apex 44 is positioned in the aperture 38 to bear against an inner surface 45 of the pin 36. In this embodiment, the inner surface 45 is shaped to correspond to the apex 44 to enhance a fit of the spring plate 48.2.

The plate 48.2 is dimensioned so that legs 46 that depend from respective sides of the apex 44 bear against the dog-legged end 22, such that the legs 46 and the head 39 serve to clamp the post 15 between the dog-legged end 22 and the straight end 23 to fasten adjacent ends 22, 23 to the post 15 securely and in a removable manner.

The spring plates 48 can be installed and removed with a suitable impact tool or a similar device.

Invariably, the modules 10 can become damaged or wear through usage. Individual modules can be readily replaced by removing a corresponding pair of fastening devices 20 from their corresponding mounting posts 15. As previously explained, the guard assembly 8 provides a barrier to prevent debris and wire from moving axially along the rim 4 and on to the axle of associated machinery.

As shown in FIG. 2, the waste compactor wheel assembly 2 b includes a mounting means in the form of nine mounting members 12, positioned on the inner periphery 14 of the rim 4. As previously described, a guard module 10 is fastened between each adjacent pair of members 12 using the fastening devices 20.

An annular mounting plate 18 is located within the rim 4 to which an axle of associated machinery can be mounted.

In a second embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, a compactor wheel assembly 2 c includes a pair of modular guard assemblies 8 a, 8 b which respectively extend from an outer peripheral edge 16 and an inner peripheral edge 14 of the rim 4. In use, compacted debris and waste is contained between the modular guard assemblies 8 a, 8 b, which results in improved compaction and impedes lateral movement of the waste during compaction.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

In the foregoing embodiments, a single module 10 extends between each adjacent pair of mounting members 12. For improved strength, one or more modules can be stacked together before being mounted between an adjacent pair of mounting members 12.

In FIG. 5, the modular guard assemblies 8 a, 8 b extend from the outer edge 16 and the inner edge 14 of the rim 4, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the modular guard assemblies 8 a, 8 b can extend from positions set inwardly from the inner and outer peripheral edges 14, 16, respectively.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. 

1. A compactor wheel assembly that comprises: a compactor rim; and a modular guard assembly having plurality of replaceable guard modules mounted, in a detachable manner, on the compactor rim, to inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris inwardly towards an axle to which the rim is mounted, in use.
 2. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the modular guard assembly includes a plurality of guard mounting members positioned circumferentially about the compactor rim, the guard modules being mounted on the mounting members.
 3. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the modular guard assembly includes fastening devices for fastening each guard module to at least one of the guard mounting members in a detachable manner.
 4. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the plurality of guard mounting members are fast with the compactor rim and extend radially from an operatively inner end portion of the compactor rim, each pair of adjacent guard mounting members being equidistant with respect to each other.
 5. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which each guard module is formed integrally from a strip of metal.
 6. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which each module has one end with a dog-legged lesser edge longitudinal profile and another end with a substantially straight lesser edge longitudinal profile with a post of each mounting member received between the dog-legged end of one respective module and the straight end of a consecutive respective module such that together the modules define a substantially uniform outwardly facing surface.
 7. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which each module defines an opening at each end and each post defines a corresponding opening, the openings being configured so that when the posts are received between associated ends of consecutive modules, the openings are in register with each other to permit the modules to be fastened to the posts, the fastening devices including elongate fastening components receivable through the registered openings.
 8. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which each fastening device includes the elongate fastening component in the form of a pin, the pin having a head and a shank defining an aperture, and a fastener that is receivable through the aperture, the fastener and the aperture being configured so that associated ends of the consecutive modules and the interposed post are compressed together between the fastener and the flared head.
 9. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which each fastener is a sprung member that is receivable in the aperture so that the associated ends of the consecutive modules and the interposed post are compressed together between at least one portion of the sprung member and the head.
 10. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the sprung member is a spring plate that has a waveform profile with an apex that is receivable in said aperture and legs extending out of the pin to bear against one of the ends of the consecutive modules.
 11. A compactor wheel assembly as claimed in 9, in which the sprung member is a spring plate with a longitudinal profile that defines a pair of apices interposed between a pair of legs, the pin being received in a trough defined between the apices and the legs extending out of the pin to bear against one of the ends of the consecutive modules.
 12. A compactor wheel assembly comprising: a compactor rim; and a plurality of guard mounting members positioned circumferentially about the compactor rim, the guard mounting members being configured to permit a plurality of replaceable guard modules to be mounted on the guard mounting members with fastening devices for fastening each guard module to at least one of the guard mounting members in a detachable manner, to inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris inwardly towards an axle to which the compactor rim is mounted.
 13. A compactor wheel assembly that comprises: a compactor rim; a plurality of guard mounting members positioned circumferentially about the compactor rim; a plurality of replaceable guard modules mounted on the guard mounting members and configured to inhibit the movement of wrapping-type debris inwardly towards an axle to which the compactor rim is mounted; and fastening devices for fastening each guard module to at least one of the guard mounting members in a detachable manner. 